Main Difference – Vision vs Mission
Vision and mission is a summary of goals and objectives of an organization. Vision and mission are commonly used in business organizations, non-profit as well as governmental entities. Some of the main features of good mission and vision statements are their conciseness, clarity, and stability. Vision is an aspiration description of what an organization would like to achieve in the future and mission outlines the core purpose of an organization. The main difference between vision and mission is that vision describes the future aspirations of an organization and mission defines the purpose of an organization. In other words, vision statement defines what the company aims to accomplish, and mission statement describes what is being pursued to accomplish the vision.
This article contains,
1. What is Vision?
2. Vision Statement Examples
3. What is Mission?
4. Mission Statement Examples
5. Key Differences Between Vision and Mission
What is Vision
Vision is a short and simple aspirational description of what an organization would like to achieve or accomplish in the mid-term or long-term future. It defines the desired future state of an organization, i.e., it describes what the organization wants to achieve over time. It answers the basic question – where you want to be in the future.
A vision statement is always future-oriented, challenging and inspiring. It declares the organization’s long-term goals, serves as a foundation for a broad strategic plan, motivates the employees, attracts new employees, helps focus company efforts and help companies to differentiate themselves from their competitors.
Vision Statement Examples
“Our vision is to be earth’s most customer centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online.” – Amazon
“To be the company that best understands and satisfies the product, service and
self-fulfilment needs of women globally.” – Avon
What is Mission
A mission is a statement that outlines an organization’s core purpose. It directs the day-to-day operations and decision-making of the organization.
Mission statements remain unchanged over time although it is possible for a company to update their mission statement. A good mission statement defines the intended direction of the entire organization. It clearly states what is important from what is not and which markets will be served and how. Mission statement also answers the questions:
What do we want to do?
When are we going to do it?
How are we going to do it?
Dr. Christopher Bart states that there are three essential components in commercial mission statements. They define who their customers or clients are and what products and services are provided to them. It also states how their products or services become unique so that the customers would select them.
Mission Statement Examples
“The World Bank Group aims to fight poverty with passion and professionalism for lasting results – to help people help themselves and their environments by producing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity, and forging partnerships in the public and private sector” – World Bank
“Our mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful” – Google
Although both vision and mission statements summarize the objectives and goals of a company, there is a clear demarcation between them. Mission describes the present operations and process of a company and vision describes the aspirations of the company. The vision statement can be accomplished only if the mission statement is carried out successfully. Therefore, vision can be termed as an effect and mission can be described as the cause.
Difference Between Vision and Mission
Definition
Vision is an aspirational description of what an organization would like to achieve in the future.
Mission is the declaration of an organization’s core propose.
Future vs Present
Vision describes the future.
Mission describes the present.
Effect vs Cause
Vision is the effect.
Mission is the cause.
Accomplishment
Vision is something to be accomplished.
Mission is something to be pursued for that accomplishment.
Image Courtesy:
“Siaya District Hospital’s vision, mission statement and values” by Moving Mountains Trust (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
